Exploring the child arrangements of separated families

This project will investigate how separated families in England and Wales make child arrangements, focusing on children’s involvement and outcomes.

Child arrangements among separated families are underexplored, particularly outside formal legal systems. This is despite clear evidence that family separation increases risks of negative consequences for children, with post-separation relationships identified as a key risk factor. The Nuffield Family Justice Observatory has highlighted significant evidence gaps, including our understanding of outcomes for both the children involved in private law proceedings and the 90% of families navigating separation – and by extension, child arrangements – outside the courts.

The research team aim to address these gaps by integrating children’s voices and examining the effectiveness of arrangements since the introduction of the statutory presumption of parental involvement in 2014. The following questions will be answered:

1. What child arrangements, if any, are made by separated families?
2. (How) are children’s wishes and feelings taken into account in the child arrangements?
3. In what familial contexts are child arrangements made?
4. What are the perceived effects of the child arrangements?

The research will involve two surveys with 1,500 separated parents and 1,000 young adults who experienced parental separation.  They will collect data on demographics, family circumstances prior to separation, child arrangements at the time of separation and how they evolved, division of assets, and the involvement of children in decision-making. 

In-depth interviews will be conducted with 50 separated parents, 25 young adults, and 25 children aged 11–15 to explore their experiences, perceptions, and reflections on child arrangements. 

Findings will enhance understanding of how separated families make child arrangements and the range of factors that influence these decisions. This knowledge will help inform potential reforms to legal processes, improve the support services available for families, and guide those navigating separation and child arrangements. Key stakeholders include the Ministry of Justice, Department for Work and Pensions, Cafcass, and grassroots organisations like Gingerbread. Project outputs will include accessible reports, a Policy and Practitioner Roadmap, public seminars, and webinars.